Kinross returned to winning ways with a storming success in the Listed British Stallion Studs EBF Hyde Stakes at Kempton Park this evening, Wednesday, November 18.
Held up last of the 10 runners by Richard Kingscote in the mile contest, Kinross (Ralph Beckett, 6/1) came with a power packed finish along the rail to deny last year’s runner-up Khuzaam (Roger Varian/Jim Crowley, 11/10 fav) in the final strides.
The winning distance was three parts of a length, with a further neck back to Via Serendipity (Charlie Fellowes/Hayley Turner, 14/1) in third.
Tonight’s Fast-Track Qualifier triumph provides Kinross with a guaranteed start in the Bombardier All-Weather Mile Championship at Lingfield Park on All-Weather Championships Finals Day, Good Friday, April 2.
The Kingman colt looked a prodigious talent when scoring by eight lengths on his debut at Newmarket last autumn and hopes were high heading into his three-year-old campaign.
He was not disgraced in G1 company on his first two starts of the season, finishing sixth behind Kameko in the QIPCO 2000 Guineas at Newmarket and eighth behind Pinatubo in the G1 Prix Jean Prat at Deauville.
On his latest outing however, he trailed home last in a Listed race at Newbury on September 18, having reportedly lost his action in the closing stages.
Kingscote said: “I was happy early on because the race was going to plan. Ralph had asked me to sit him in as on the book it looked like there was pace in the race. We were in a nice rhythm and I was happy.
“We were picking up ground comfortably heading towards the cutaway, although Jim [Crowley] was far enough ahead. To be fair as soon as I gave Kinross a crack, I felt like I was on the winner.
“He gave me a very enjoyable ride. It is nice when you get dream run and slice through them like a knife through butter on a horse that is good enough to do it.
“This should pick his confidence up because he has been running in top races and it is not easy for them to have a year like that. I think tonight will do him the world of good.
“I think he just needs races that are run to suit. It is possible that he might get further, but I would rather see him stick to the mile. I think it suits him well.”
